Issue

Just 21 percent of the region's jobs and 8 percent of its population are located within a quarter-mile of rapid transit.

Metropolitan Chicago grew by just 0.22 percent a year between 2010 and 2013, far outpaced by peer cities. While the Loop and select neighborhoods are growing, most places in the city—as distinct as Lincoln Park and Englewood—have lost population. Reversing this trend is critically important: More people will mean more home sales, construction jobs, local purchases, and tax revenue to support retail, city services and infrastructure.

Data from the U.S. Census demonstrates just how important the transit system is for low-income residents: workers in the city of Chicago with incomes under the poverty line were 29% more likely to take transit to work versus those with incomes above. Of commuters taking transit, a full 12% had earnings below the poverty line, versus only 7% of those driving to work. Effective development ought to ensure that all people have reliable transportation choices that connect where they live to where good jobs are available.

The question is not whether we want to grow; it’s how we want to grow. Both to strengthen our economy and promote equity, we need to provide people of all incomes with more options to live in stable and growing communities; more commercial development and jobs in communities where population has been stagnant or shrinking; and development that builds on assets that connect our entire city, such as our riverways and public transportation network.

Solution

Development near transit is Chicago's ticket to equitable growth

MPC encourages growth near public transit to create thriving, balanced and mixed income communities. Our agenda emphasizes reducing the barriers to equitable development near transit through robust public engagement, education, providing technical assistance and advocating for policy change.

As neighborhoods grow, MPC knows that community input is critical. That's why MPC helps communities proactively plan for real-world development scenarios through its Corridor Development Initiative (CDI). This signature process results in customized recommendations, crafted by the community with help from experts. Investors can use these findings to understand local opportunities and values, while residents benefit from having a starting point for discussions with developers.

MPC is a founding member of Elevated Chicago, a collaborative effort to improve equity, health and climate resilience through equitable TOD. L-Evated Chicago is made possible by support from the Strong, Prosperous, and Resilient Communities Challenge (SPARCC).

MPC's TOD Calculator offers residents, community groups and developers the ability to analyze the impact of development by neighborhood. The site also illustrates which parcels in the city qualify for the TOD ordinance's benefits.

Benefits

Reliable public transit connects people's homes and jobs

Living near transit decreases cost of living

SOM

At a February 2018 Woodlawn CDI meeting, community members helped design plans for the future of a historic bank building

Fewer cars means less congestion and pollution

Equitable TOD ensures that neighborhoods near transit are welcoming and livable to the widest range of the region's population as possible

Access to funding and incentives are available for transit-oriented development

Shaping a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous greater Chicago region

For more than 80 years, the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) has made the Chicago region a better place to live and work by partnering with businesses, communities and governments to address the area's toughest planning and development challenges. MPC works to solve today's urgent problems while consistently thinking ahead to prepare the region for the needs of tomorrow. Read more about our work »